By now, it's no secret that docked Citi Bikes can be used as free personal exercise machines, but could this new trend be used for a purpose other than giving the city's homeless population "sick bodies"? What if, instead of putting the kibosh on the by

By now, it's no secret that docked Citi Bikes can be used as free personal exercise machines, but could this new trend be used for a purpose other than giving the city's homeless population "sick bodies"? What if, instead of putting the kibosh on the practice by locking the pedals of the bikes (as some have speculated could happen), the city was able to harness the kinetic energy generated by the movement of these opportunistic New Yorkers' legs and turn it into electricity? And what if the resulting pedal power could charge up cell phones, emergency equipment or even solve some of the issues Citi Bike's been having with their off-the-grid stations going dead?

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The power from people could help run the electronic Citi Bike racks and act as a remote power station for electronics during power outages. http://www.ASEpower.com

1crazyfoxJune 26, 2013 at 9:52 am

Homeless are ofttimes unhealthy due to high stress, lack of medical care and proper nutrition. It takes a tool on a body and mind quickly-and I am speaking of those that are not addicted to alcohol and drugs-they fare much worse. But having said that, at first glance the idea of making bikes available for charging phones, etc, sounds like a plan~